Float cutting method for looms



Jan. 5, 1954 w, R|DDLE 2,664,920

FLOAT CUTTING METHOD FOR LOOMS Fi led Dec. 22, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet l v *1 I N I N N I g w LE1 INVENTOR fraralfii'lzwlg,

1416;, Ma G'vu'udti 1 Luz Tm.

' ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1954 F. w. RIDDLE 2,664,920

FLOAT CUTTING METHOD FOR LOOMS Filed Dec. 22, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTIORI BY 06m, M, chug, W1

ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1954 F. w. RIDDLE FLOAT CUTTING METHOD FOR LOOMS 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Dec. 22, 1949 ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1954 F. w. RIDDLE 2,664,920

FLOAT CUTTING METHOD FOR LOOMS Filed Dec. 22, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I INVENTOR mllllllllllll Illlllllllll ufl jr'nrafi'iflflzwle,

lL/afma, (m g Q/u'ud Fr; 1* ulafs'nu ATTORNEY Jan. 5, 1954 F. w. RIDDLE 2,664,920

FLOAT CUTTING METHOD FOR LOOMS Filed Dec. 22, 1949 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 was, Mt c ulfL v (UUSou.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 5, 1954 FLOAT CUTTING METHOD FOR LOOMS Frank William Riddle, Biscoe, N. 0., assignor to Aileen Mills Company, Biscoe, N. 0., a corporation of Delaware Application December 22, 1949, Serial No. 134,554

2 Claims. (01. 139-291) This invention relates to improvements in apparatus and methods for making tufted fabrics, and more particularly to the severing of continuous tuft cords, employed in the manufacture of such fabrics, after weaving of the cords into the fabric.

It is a common expedient in the manufacture of fabrics of this character to feed continuous tuft cords, each comprising a bundle of threads, in parallel relation and in the direction of and above the warp threads of the fabric. By suitable manipulation of the loom harness, controlled by the feeding of an appropriate pattern to the loom dobby or the like, the tuft cords are depressed at intervals, together with selected warp threads, to provide a shed for the passage of the shuttle, whereby the cords are woven into the fabric at spaced points in the length thereof. Intermediate these points the cords are free, constituting loops, and the loops thus formed in the cords are disposed in rows, generally aligned transversely of the fabric. Tufts are then formed by severing the loops, thereby forming the tuft ends.

This is a conventional operation, commonly performed on ordinary power looms, the cutting of the tuft loops being effected manually by moving a cutting tool across the fabric to sever the aligned loops, one transverse row of loops being cut on each stroke of the tool. It is a feature of the instant invention that the cutting is effected automatically and in such a manner as to provide greater accuracy in the cutting and increased uniformity in the length of the tufts.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide apparatus, either as a component of a loom, or as an attachment for or an adjunct to a loom, whereby tuft cords woven at intervals into a fabric so as to provide tuft loops, may be severed substantially midway of each loop, in combination with means whereby such apparatus is operated automatically and in timed relation to the lengthwise advance of the fabric.

More specifically, it is an object of the invention to provide, in a loom suitable for use in the manufacture of tufted fabrics, a cutting device reciprocable transversely of the fabric and in timed relation to the operation of the loom, to,

ric, the weft threads are usually curved rearwardly to some extent adjacent the selvage, and there is corresponding rearward displacement at each side of the fabric of the points at which the tuft cords are woven into the fabric. Thus the tuft loops are not precisely aligned in each transverse row, and cannot be severed by transverse motion of a cutting device in a straight line; In the preferred embodiment of the invention, therefore, means are provided to cause the cutting device to follow a slightly curved path adjacent each end of its travel so as to conform to the distortion of the fabric near the selvage. It is a further feature of the invention that undue strain on the fabric during the cutting operation is avoided by causing the cutting device to move inwardly of the selvage prior to the cutting stroke, to perform a short cutting stroke in which a limited number of tuft loops are severed while moving outwardly toward the selvage, and thereafter to perform the main cutting stroke, wherein the remainder of the tuft loops are severed, while moving across the entire width of the fabric to the opposite selvage.

Further features and objects of the invention will be apparent from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of part of a loom, illustrating one mode of practicing the invention;

Figure 2 is a vertical section taken on the line 22 of Figure l;

Figure 3 is a front elevation of the loom shown in plan in Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view on the line 4-4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the detail appearing to the right of the structure shown in Figure 3;

Figure 6 is a plan view of certain elements shown in Figure 4;

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken substantially on the line 1-1 of Figure 1;

Figure 8 is a section on the line 88 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Figure 7;

Figure 10 is a fragmentary detail view of struc-- ture shown in Figure 1;

Figure 11 is a section on the line I|--ll of Figure 3;

Figure 12 is a wiring diagram suitable for controlling the operation of the claimed apparatus; and 1 Figure 13 is a diagrammatic view representing.

the preferred method of guiding and operating the cutting device.

In order to promote an understanding of the invention, a preferred embodiment thereof is illustrated in the drawings and specific language is used to describe the same. It will be understood, however, that further modifications and alterations of the illustrated structure are contemplated, such as would normally occur to one skilled inthe art, and that the descriptive language is not to be construed as limiting the scope of the invention.

The invention is illustrated as applied to a conventional type of dobby loom, the,detailsof which form no part of the instant invention, but may be varied widely. Thus the warp threads l8, carried on a beam at the rear of the 166m, are fed forwardly through a reed l5, and are raised and lowered by harness whi c h is controlled by jacks H, the latter being selectively rendered operable by a pattern chain 2'0, 'fed through a dobby 2|. ljhe cloth or fabric 24 is passed oyer a roughened 1r o'll,25 and wound "on alc o ba sl l fim emp es 2.8. being pr v at each siden the fabr to ply.,tran $911 1 2-1 19-.lalt firainhthe known manner. A 199. 1 o fsehe lly simi a g t pe and mode-er. op emu isshqwn hepa ntto Cobb 1,383, ,1 whi hi ezpatteli ahabis of thetype in which in are se ptiv v.inser ed to co trol the oper- M e eeitbei gks, andth rebythe.harn s U .hsr inbs xe indicat d. th invention. is 99%? ith. the product on. of. tufted fabrics whichare formed by wfihvill into thelfabrictuft ar-s s b es, ,each comprisin a considerable lll nbfi epi, threads Jlhe .qq s -a-re. w v n into the ab i a a d nterva ..t11e. eby...fo1-mine tuft lo ps, w ch e..seve. 'ed...l av ns the free ms orutuits Thusa shownfm. E sures. land ZJHIMQQ .30. a e fp t ard y over and n the general direction gf the warpthreads l8. Bx wei nse tnftp rdsifl a nt rva s. a cord is woven into the fabric at spaced'points 3 3 ,-i{orrnin g ,a f;ree loop, 1 ermediate these P9ili-.--. S e al QUh uf ucordshare lowered nd hav n-lib.- -ai. the me in t nts. adjacent loops are substantially aligned, although, considerable distortion, f the fa ri. .,.,and1 resultant IWWfii-Q eflfi aa nie fi. Q iheioops. oc u s a jacent the selvage, as the result of lateral. ,ten- We a lie is t e 'ia r by m es .28 Inn in order to cut the tuft loops, asubstantiaHy manat n ai akam betamn aq ossth fabric and over the major portion of thewidth I ,a q i a th suttineiabl pproach the s'elvag'e, it 'must be concurrently dispiaced a wa dlwq. gmpensatefo th l c fahena st. .in ieloses ie h .ici of h iahri The manufacture of tufted fabrics in this mans ams cutt n o heu tl s. being formed'manually, is a well known practice. In m ss wit the. nstant. in e ti n, thesevering of the tuft loops formed int he usual way, i efla e x.,.aut9 i a m chanism boufilt be described, embodying the inventive concept. .11 eu mati .m chan snwhieh maybec nsidered either as an attachment or an adjunct fil-eq fie ifi n lea n... isloeate .withtheew ception of certain control swit che s, at the front or, thefllpoin andmay be mounted on a structural part 35 of the loom frame, as shown in ifiilr l tandfir .A hail: o u d pl t v 6.1 fiendin etiensver el of the. loom,.. and in substantial alignment, are pivoted together adjacent the. enterfi the 190, 1 a. pin.v 31, .:.t e.,la ein ZF Y Q n .b a uns cured .to st m, t'ur'al part 35 of the loom. As shown in more pending from collar 45 is a yoke 41 extending beneath and embracing the guide plate 36. Thus 'en'diseleeemfitbr plate as to the right from the position in which it is shown in Figure 4, the plate rides on the rollers 4|], and spring 44 is compressed by yoke 41 and collar 46, spring 4'4 tending to returnthe plate 36 to its initial position. In this manner, the remote end of each guide plate may be displaced toward the loom, independently of the other guide plate.

:A drive unit comprising an electricmotor 50 andagear housing ;5l, rigid with and extending'fromone end of the motor, is mounted slidably on the aligned guide-plates 36, 'for instance :by guide brackets 52 depending from the gear housing 5! and grooved as at 53 to slidably engage theedge'portionsof guide plates 36.

.Projecting from the underside of 'each'pla te 36 is a plurality of studs 5 5, and embracing each stud isa sleeve 56, adjustably secured tothe stud and carrying an arm 58. Agpair of toothed racks '60, "one rack being supported in {parallel relation with and adjacent to each guide plate 36, are disposed insubstantial alignment and e ou d on th ar s. 5' thathe racks 6B ar rigidlvmounted on platesjii and may partake of slight swinging movement with the plates At either, side; and at thejront o f -the loom, and below the adjacent guide; piate 46, is positioned a cam element {52. Each cam element is supported jonbrackets 5| secured try structural m n 512 th 99m. r el th wer emot qr nebree etssl i esioi' q aw 6. permit adjust ent .Qithe a j c 9 i n ami ward nd awa i TQl jJ Ql TWP 999m??? f o th Ma he s"? q ..thel ar,h ii ie l l a at s a d 55..h9f01939? HH IQE EP Pa f r l r wh h" ar mc a s qfi en a e. h inner a of; ei er. Pam .3 .2 2 ri e. p. approaches either side of the loom. Each of the earns 62 'is so shaped and-positioned as to efi'ect'-'gr,adu al displacement of the roller 65, and thereby the guide plate 36, and the motor ds h us n to ard L19 maly a assembly swinging slightly about the axis of pin .31 as hereinbefore described. A n 4 Motor Wis-provided an drive shaft fil extending into-'gear housing 5|. Mounted on shaftifil is a spiral-; gear meshing with a mating gear 68 jonshaft Tl, the latter extending teriorly of the gear housing and haying a spur gear 12 secured thereon. Spur-gear '1 -ispositioned to meshwith-thetollthed racksijl; consequently, lenergizati'on of ,the 'motorserves to drive "the motor; gear eaning, andas ociated parts tofland fro on thezguide'plate -36;the direction of movement being-determined by=the-direction of rotation of-the motor 50.

The motor shaft 6'! also carries'a beverzear 14, w ich meshes wlth'bevel ear .5; s cu 'i' a shaft 16, the'latteriprojectingrinwardly toward the loom within a hearing block :18 secured-rigid- 1 to thes ar h usi sjby flbracketla-projecting from the housing. At its outer :end-the shaft 16 carries a spur gear 80. Slidably mounted in block 1'8 is a bearing 8| for a spindle 83, the spindle carrying a spur gear 84, meshing w th and driven from gear 89, and a circular cutting blade 85. The lower part of the cutting edge of blade 85 projects into a slot 86 in an elongated shoe 8B, which is narrowed at each end to form a nose to facilitate the passage of the shoe between the tuft loops 34 and the fabric 24, as 11- lustrated in Figure 1. Shoe 88 is mounted on a plate 9| secured to the lower side of bearing 8|, the shoe being positioned so as to rest on the fabric 25 as illustrated in Figure 2. Thus as the motor 59, gear housing 5|, shoe 8B, cutting blade 85, and other parts moving therewith, all of which may, for convenience, be termed the cutting device, are reciprocated on the guide means, which comprises the plates 38, the racks 68, and the cams t2, the shoe 88 traverses the fabric, passing under the tuft loops 34 in succession, which are thereupon severed by the rotating blade 85. As the cutting device approaches either side of the loom, the rollers 65 engage the adjacent cam 52, so that the entire cutting device is swung inwardly toward the loom, and the cutter is displaced rearwardly of the fabric 24 so as to follow a generally curved path, thereby compensating for the distortion of the fabric adjacent the selvage.

In order to compensate for irregularities and minor lack of alignment of adjacent tuft loops, the shoe 88 and cutting blade 85 are supported to permit slight endwise movement thereof. For this purpose the bearing 8|, carrying spindle 83, shoe 88, and cutting blade 85 are mounted in block 18 for endwise sliding movement, as hereinbefore mentioned, being biased in the outward direction by a coil spring 89. Thus on slight misalignment of the tuft loops in a given row, the shoe 88, on passing under a misaligned loop, displaces the bearing 8|, spindle 83, shoe 88, and cutting blade 85 against the action of spring 89, so that the cut may invariably be made in proximity to the center of the loop. Outward displacement of bearing 8| is adiustably limited by set screw 81.

A simple means and method of controlling the reciprocating movement of the cutting device on the guide means is represented diagrammatically in Figure 12 of the drawing. Thus motor 58 is of any conventional reversible type, energized from a supply line 93 through either of the conductors 94 and 95, for the purpose of rotating the motor in opposite direction, lead 96 being common to both circuits, and being directly connected to one side of the supply line. Conductors 94 and 95 are selectively connected with the other side of the supply line on energization of relays 98 and 99 respectively. One end of the winding of each of these relays is connected to the same side of the supply line; the other ends of the windings are connected to the other side of the supply line through a pair of single throw switches, switches A and B being connected in series with the winding of relay 98, and switches C and D being connected in a series with the winding of relay 99. The switches are normally biased to the positions in which they are shown in Figure 12, switches A and C being normally closed, and switches B and D being normally open.

Switch C may be mounted on bracket 4|, carried by the loom frame at the left-hand side of the loom, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, and is provided with an operating arm |0| positioned for engagement by an abutment I02 on the gear cutting device.

by de-energizing relay 8B and terminating opera-- tion of the motor.

Switches B and D are mounted on the loonr frame above the dobby 2|, switch B and its operating arm I being shown in Figure 3 of the drawing. The operating arm of each of switches 33 and D is positioned for engagement by a separate jack H; the jacks selected for this purpose are a pair which are not being used for the manipulation of loom harness. Either of switches 18 and D may be operated at selected intervals by the insertion in the pattern chain of pins for controlling the operation of the jacks by which the switches arerespectively operated.

Thus, referring again to Figure 12, if it be assumed that the cutting device is at the righthand limit of its travel, so that limit switch A is open and limit switch C is closed, motor 50 may be energized to displace the cutting device to the left by closing switch D, to complete the motor circuit through conductor 95. As soon as the cutting device begins its movement to the left, limit switch A is allowed to close, and when the movement to the left is completed, switch C is opened by the cutting device to interrupt the current supply. The closing of switch B will now energize relay 98, and current will be supplied through conductor 94 to drive the motor in the reverse direction, the cutting device moving again to the right. While the cutting device occupies any position intermediate of the limits of its movement, starting and stopping, as well as control of direction of reciprocation, may be effected by closing either of the switches B and D in accordance with the setting of the pattern chain.

The preferred mode of operation hereinbefore described, whereby cutting of tuft loops adjacent either side of the fabric is always effected by displacement of the cutting device toward the selvage, is readily achieved. Thus if we assume that the cutting device occupies the extreme left position, designated position 1 in Figure 13 of the drawing, the motor 50 may be energized, through the feeding of the pattern chain, by the closing of switch B. When position 2 is reached, the motor is de-energized by releasing switch B. The pattern chain thereafter closes switch D to displace the cutting device to the left, the timing being such that tuft loops near the selvage have advanced to a position in which they may be engaged by the shoe 88 and severed by the cutting blade 80, and these loops are out while the cutting device is moving toward the selvage. During this portion of the travel of the cutting device, the latter is concurrently displaced rearwardly of the pattern, as hereinbefore described, to compensate for distortion of the fabric. Strain applied to the fabric by the cutting operation on these loops is distributed over the major portion of the fabric and is not applied directly to the selvage, as would be the case if the cutting operation were initiated from position 1. When h u t s device w fl :1 swi h A i to ermina t e i PW-r ment In asco eau with 9 pa ha w ch D m 9998M Wi B i d. win @vi imm r s t entire i cutting m masn Q i-F e lo p r srz ac m n heme t rm Wm? P951? t 3 reached, b th o nin 9 sw t A- Switch B i h n o en d a s t h 1 i d s t cu device moves to 4, s epwise withtheOpeng of switch D. t lfi loops of the. next row are alignment with-the shoe switch 3 is closed, s that-the cutting device moves from bosi tion fto 3, and cuts the tuft loops adjacentthe salvage. h P t r ac e C i and the pattern chain. opensswitch Banalcloses D, whereupon t fi t n de ume e t re acr s t r ah i to t l ts cu t th remainder. 0f th ilwnsi t i' w sp cem n being terminated in position '1 by the. openingof switch C. It will be perceived-tha tthefoperation may be repeated indcfi-rritely, th tuft loops being continuously and aum na ic llysev re the fabric advances in the loom.

The mounting of the gl-riving motor on the traveling cutting device affords va convenient fih t o at n cuttin bla v a -rel tively i e ma fira rs th cut in vice at .a relatively low. speed, from a conunon power source and withtheleast-structural complication. It will be appreciated, however, that in its broader aspect the; inventionis lpt limited @Ofihis a re fi ed m nt but env ionsra ous other means and provisions. torpropellinggthe cutting device and manipu lating the blade, such as would. occur -,to thpse s led in the' held to which'theinventionmela Sfinrilaxly, other control svstems operabe. in timed relation to' the rate of rfeedof -the fabric QmayE-be substituted for that illustrated and described herein.

Having thus I described the; invention, what is claimed as new desired ;tohe secuxiedby Letters Eatent is the filme -re t rmite a tu ted .tab i by W il ab. .-.a -sna d nterval in the lerigth thereetga plurality .ot -ttuttlcords Lil entending lengthwise of the iabric, so as to protuft loobsj the loops in adjacent cords' bein; substantially aligned in rows transversely'of the fabric; the'step' which comprises severing a row of tuft loops while the fabric is under lateral tension'by rnoving a'cutting'edge', in immediate succession, first frorn a point at one side of the fabric to sever the loops between said point and the selvage, thereafte'r'across the width of the fabric to the opposite selvage to sever the remaining loops in the row, and then to a'point inward of the last named selvage and inward of loops adjacent said last named salvage, and concurrentlyand during the severing of loops adjacent'theselvages, displacing the cutting edge in the direction of distortion of the fabric caused by lateral tensioning of the fabric to compensate tor such distortion.

2. the method of forming a tufted fabric by weaving into the fabric, at spaced intervals in the length thereoffa plurality of tuft cords extending lengthwise of the fabric, so as to providetuft loops, the loops'in adjacentvcords being substantially aligned in rows transversely of the iahric, the steps which comprise severing a row of tuft loops while the fabric is under lateral tensign, by moving a cutting edge, in immediate 'suc cession, firstfro ma point at one side of the fabric to sever the loops b'etweensuch point and the selvage, thereafter across the width of the fabric toctheoppo'site salvage to severthe remaining loops in the row, and thento a point, inward of the last namedselvage and inward of loops adjacentsaid last named selvage.

FRANK WILLIAM RIDDLE.

lte ferences Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 606306 Daymont June '28, 1898 701,578 Knowlton June 3, 1902 1,103,838 Rehfuss et a1. July 14, 1914 1,5573% Shumacher 'Oct. 13, 1925 2,192,410 Moore etjal. Mar. 5, 1940 2,598,578 MCCut chen ct al. May 27, 1952 2,598,579 McCutchen ct a1. May 27, '1952 

